Escorted out of building

BLM official escorted out of building after DOGE conflict

The removal of Mike Nedd, BLM’s deputy director for administration and programs, is the latest upheaval in personnel at the agency that is critical for oil and gas production.

By Ben Lefebvre

A senior leader at the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management was escorted out its headquarters Tuesday after POLITICO reported that he opposed staffing directions from a former DOGE appointee, according to three people familiar with the situation.

The removal of Mike Nedd, BLM’s deputy director for administration and programs who had been with the department for nearly 30 years, is the latest personnel upheaval at the bureau that oversees oil, natural gas and mineral production on federal land and is considered key for the Trump administration to reach its goal of increasing fossil fuel production on public property.

Nedd had opposed carrying out directives signed by Stephanie Holmes, a former staffer for Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency who is now embedded as Interior’s acting chief human capital officer, people familiar with the situation told POLITICO last week. Holmes’ May 2 memo instructed employees who had been filling in on positions left vacant by departing staff to return to their original positions.

BLM oversees the 245 million acres under federal control, making it a critical player in fulfilling Trump’s pledge of rapidly expanding the nation’s fossil fuel and mineral production. Forcing staff to stop performing the duties of the jobs left empty after the administration’s aggressive workforce cuts could slow the bureau’s efforts to increase oil and gas production on federal land.

Nedd could not be reached for comment. Spokespersons for BLM and the Interior Department declined to comment. An Interior spokesperson had said on Friday that Nedd had not told staff to ignore Holmes’ directive.

Nedd’s removal would be the latest blow to BLM leadership. The bureau still doesn’t have a director after Trump’s first nominee, Kathleen Sgamma, withdrew her nomination last month after an essay she wrote years ago criticizing the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol resurfaced.